Playing each other in the round-robin format on August 22, they drew 1-1.
Midfielder Pham Hai Yen opened the score for Vietnam just 12 minutes after thefirst whistle and Thailand leveled the result near the end of the first halfwith Thongsombut finding the far corner of the net past goalkeeper Dang ThiKieu Trinh.
Vietnam will play Malaysia while reigning champions Thailand will meet thePhilippines in the last matches on August 24.
Coach Mai Duc Chung of Vietnam said he is not satisfied with what his team did asthey missed many chances to score.
“Some players did not do their job well. They lost the ball and they wasted theopportunities. We were not lucky this match,” said Chung, adding that theywould fight harder in their last game.
Chung said the way for Vietnam to win its fifth SEA Games gold is clear. Theplayers had to score as many goals as possible to get a goal difference advantageagainst Thailand. The team with more determination and better tactics will bethe champion, he said.
Coach Spencer Prior of Thailand said the draw result was logical. Thailand haddominated the first half but been tired towards the end, he said.
He believed his team could defend their title although their match would beplayed before the one between Vietnam and Malaysia.
In August 22’s football matches between the male teams, Vietnam failed todefeat 10-man Indonesia, the game ending in a goalless draw.
In the last group round match on August 24, Vietnam need a draw result with Thailandto advance to the semi-finals.-VNA